Fantasy Trade Market: WR Targets After A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Chris Olave Injuries
Many fantasy football managers will be proactive in their search for starter insurance as a trio of notable wide receivers deal with injuries.
Before we find out the latest on CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown and Chris Olave, let's head to the trade market for players to target as the league's November 5 trade deadline approaches.
This week's trade market listing is littered with wide receivers tight ends who are buy-low, sell-high and hold candidates ahead of Week 10.
Some of our buy and hold selections are more than backup options. You should consider rostering a few for the remainder of the season.
Buy These Players Now
1 of 3
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Week 9: N/A
2024 Season: 25 catches, 404 yards, 3 TDs
Jennings should be one of the top buy-low candidates as the 49ers come off a bye week with buzz around star running back Christian McCaffrey.
Remember, San Francisco lost starting wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL and MCL) for the season, which means Jennings could slide into the starting lineup alongside Deebo Samuel if he's healthy.
In Week 3, Jennings became a fantasy football star when he caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams. He posted those numbers as a starter in place of Samuel.
Primed for a more prominent role in Aiyuk's absence, Jennings could be a player who helps you win leagues. He could be a trade steal after missing two games with a hip injury.
Buy Jennings for: Joshua Palmer, Wan'Dale Robinson, Christian Watson
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Week 9: 1 catches, 14 yards
2024 Season: 30 catches, 336 yards, 2 TDs
You may be concerned about Pittman's production with Joe Flacco following the Colts' lackluster offensive performance in Week 9. Flacco only threw for 179 yards without a touchdown pass, and Pittman hauled in just one target for 14 yards.
However, before Week 9, Pittman either racked up 113 receiving yards or caught a touchdown pass in three games with Flacco taking a majority of the snaps at quarterback.
If a manager in your league is willing to part ways with Pittman after one subpar outing with Flacco, buy his stock and watch it rise for as long as the Colts start the 39-year-old high-volume passer.
Buy Pittman for: Courtland Sutton, Tyler Lockett, Romeo Doubs
Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Week 9: 3 catches, 19 yards, TD
2024 Season: 30 catches, 353 yards, 3 TDs
The Cowboys have multiple question marks at key offensive positions. Quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) are dealing with injuries that forced them to leave last Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
If Lamb misses time or is limited, Tolbert could see more targets in the short term. He's taken over the No. 2 wide receiver role while Brandin Cooks is on injured reserve.
Even if Cooper Rush starts in place of Prescott, Tolbert has a decent fantasy production ceiling and should be on your radar this week.
Buy Tolbert for: Demarcus Robinson, DeMario Douglas, Darius Slayton
Sell These Players
2 of 3
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Week 9: 15 carries, 72 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 0 yards
2024 Season: 133 carries, 665 yards, 5 TDs; 26 receptions, 108 yards, TD
As rookie second-round running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) prepares to make his pro debut, Hubbard's value probably isn't rising above its current market price as far as what you can get for him.
The Panthers invested premium draft capital in Brooks, so he will likely take on a decent role once he's active.
Over the past six weeks, Hubbard has scored six touchdowns, and he finished 10th among running backs in fantasy scoring for Week 10. Right now, Hubbard could fetch a solid return before his stock drops as Brooks enters the rotation.
Sell Hubbard for: James Conner, Najee Harris, Rachaad White
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Week 9: 3 catches, 63 yards, TD
2024 Season: 34 catches, 456 yards, 2 TDs
In six seasons, DK Metcalf has built a reputation as the Seattle Seahawks' big-play wide receiver. He's averaged at least 15.5 yards per reception in four out of six seasons.
Metcalf has missed the last two weeks, and his absence has allowed Jaxon Smith-Njigba to emerge as a vertical threat. Smith-Njigba could see more downfield looks following his breakout Week 9 performance.
Head coach Mike Macdonald is optimistic Metcalf will return to action after the Seahawks' Week 10 bye, which means fewer targets to go around.
After setting career highs as a downfield playmaker last week, Smith-Njigba could have a bigger role alongside Metcalf, leaving Lockett with leftover targets.
Metcalf (26) is in his prime. Smith-Njigba (22) is on the rise. Lockett (32) is slightly past his prime, averaging 49.1 receiving yards per game, which is his lowest rate since 2017.
Sell Lockett for: Jauan Jennings, Jerry Jeudy, Xavier Legette
Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9: 5 catches, 100 yards, 2 TDs
2024 Season: 30 catches, 353 yards, 2 TDs
In Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Gesicki had one of his most productive outings since Week 6 of the 2021 season when he caught eight passes for 115 yards.
This season, Gesicki has racked up 73-plus receiving yards in three of the four games that wide receiver Tee Higgins missed because of injuries.
Higgins isn't on injured reserve, so he could be back on the field soon. He's missed consecutive games.
Don't wait for Higgins' official return to trade Gesicki—it'll be too late to maximize his stock. If he's on your roster, trade him after one of his best games.
Sell Gesicki for: Taysom Hill, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Theo Johnson
Hold These Players for Another Week
3 of 3
Jahan Dotson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9: 7 catches, 71 yards; 5 carries, 34 yards
2024 Season: 1 catch, 36 yards
Since the Eagles acquired Dotson from the Washington Commanders, he's yet to make a big splash in their passing attack, though he did log a long reception last Sunday.
Based on the Eagles' depth chart, Dotson could be the next person up for an expanded role if A.J. Brown (knee) misses time, but managers should hold him for at least another week if he's on their rosters before aggressively pursuing the wideout in a trade.
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants
Week 9: 3 catches, 51 yards, TD
2024 Season: 17 catches, 201 yards, TD
Despite Daniel Jones' struggles as a passer and the Giants' run-heavy game plan for Week 9, rookie tight end Johnson has shown flashes in his early development. Over the last two weeks, he hauled in six out of 10 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Rookie wideout Malik Nabers will be the top receiving target in the Giants' aerial attack, but if the team trades wide receiver Darius Slayton, who's come up in trade rumors (h/t NFL Network's Tom Pelissero), Johnson could maintain a consistent role in Big Blue's passing offense.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
Week 9: 4 catches, 87 yards
2024 Season: 24 catches, 245 yards
The Panthers' pass-catching group will take shape in the next couple of weeks following Diontae Johnson's departure (via trade).
Rookie first-rounder Xavier Legette should have a prominent role because of his draft status, which is why he made our hold list last week.
Sanders, a rookie fourth-rounder, has recorded at least four receptions in three of the last four weeks, seeing five or more targets in those games.
At 2-7, the Panthers will likely focus on developing their young playmakers. Managers should hold on to Sanders. If he continues to produce while starting tight end Tommy Tremble is active, his stock will rise exponentially.
Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
.jpg?w=256 "Falcons Vikings Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Falcons Vikings Football")
.jpg?w=600 "SmackDown Before WrestleMania 🔠")
.jpg?w=600 "WWE Hall of Fame Recap 👏")
